Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dime

Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dime

Earliest half dimes bear no denominational references By William T. Gibbs COIN WORLD Staff If the United States Mint were to issue a coin today that bore absolutely no reference to its denomination, Congress would likely launch an investigation. Howe...READ MORE

Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dime

Draped Bust, Small Eagle Half Dime

Earliest half dimes bear no denominational references
By William T. Gibbs
COIN WORLD Staff If the United States Mint were to issue a coin today that bore absolutely no reference to its denomination, Congress would likely launch an investigation. However, the Mint did issue a coin that for its first nine years of production, despite several design changes, bore no denominational markings of any kind. It was the half dime. Or is that half disme? The Mint Act of April 2, 1792, authorized a half disme – a silver 5-cent coin – as the smallest of the silver denominations. The unusual spelling – disme – was also used for the 10-cent coin that we today call the dime. According to the late Walter Breen, Mint officials used both spellings – "dime" and "disme" – until 1835 to 1836. The words "half dime," with the traditional spelling, weren't used as a legend on the silver 5-cent coin until 1837, when the Seated Liberty design was introduced. Interestingly, the 1792 pattern pieces do bear a denominational reference: the words HALF DISME. (Some of these 1792 patterns may have circulated.) However, the first two half dimes (or half dismes) issued for general circulation bear no denominational markings of any kind, even on the edge (which was too thin to be lettered as on the silver dollar and half dollar, and on the copper half cent and cent), which is reeded. The Flowing Hair half dime was issued in 1794 and 1795 only. The Draped Bust, Small Eagle design was used in 1796 and 1797. The Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle design was issued in 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803 and 1805. The third series – the Capped Bust half dime – was introduced in 1829. It bears on its reverse the denomination as 5 c. Early half dimes offer much to variety collectors. The hands-on approach to die production resulted in overdates (like the 1796/5); misspelled words (LIKERTY); different star counts (13, 15 and 16 in 1797); and more. The earliest of the early half dimes can be expensive. However, for collectors willing to spend a little time and money, it's a great collection to build. Early half dimes aren't cheap, even in low grades. Forget about a Mint State set, even if such a set were possible. It would probably take a collecting lifetime and a fortune to complete. Capped Bust half dimes are much more affordable, even in Mint State. The best approach to the early half dimes might be a complete set of Capped Bust half dimes, and type examples of the early designs. You'll need three: the Flowing Hair, Small Eagle; Draped Bust, Small Eagle; and Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle.

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LIBERTY CAP RIGHT HALF CENT

THE SMALLEST DENOMINATION

Although it may seem unusual today, the United States government once issued a coin worth less than one cent: the half cent. The copper U.S. half cent was authorized for production on April 2, 1792. During its 64-year lifespan as a circulating denomination, five different basic design types of the tiny (0.93-inch) coin were struck. The coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint and do not have a Mint mark. The half cent's designers and engravers are among the best known names in U.S. Mint design/engraving history: Adam Eckfeldt, Robert Scot, John Gardner, Gilbert Stuart, John Reich and Christian Gobrecht. Designs for the half cent were also used on other denominations through the years. The 1793 Liberty Cap half cent features a lettered edge stating TWO HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR. The obverse depicts a bust of Liberty with flowing hair, facing left. A Liberty Cap on a pole rests on her right shoulder giving the design its name, the Liberty Cap. The design for the Liberty Cap half cent was based on Agustin Dupre's Libertas Americana medal. Half cents struck between 1794 and 1797 bear another Liberty Cap design, this one facing right, and issued in Plain Edge, Lettered Edge and Gripped Edge varieties. From 1800 to 1808 the Draped Bust design was used on half cents. All half cents bearing those dates are Plain Edge varieties. The Classic Head design was used on half cents struck between 1809-1836. From 1849 to 1857, a Coronet design with Plain Edge was used. All half cents have a wreath on the reverse. The key dates in the series are 1793; 1796, No Pole; 1802/0, Reverse of 1800; and 1831.